The economy gained 290,000 jobs in April though the unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent, according to the April 2010 Employment Situation report from the Department of Labor. 

Manufacturing added 44,000 jobs in the month.

In a statement US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis called the growth a "remarkable change" from April of 2009 when 528,00 jobs were lost.

"Our economy has added jobs in five of the last six months, and we are seeing growth in a broad range of industries including health care, manufacturing, professional and business services, and construction. In the last two months, we have added more than 500,000 jobs," she noted.

Solis says the improved employment landscape indicates that the administration's efforts to put the economy on a better track are working.

The most recent estimates from the Council of Economic Advisers indicate that the Recovery Act saved or created between 2.2 and 2.8 million jobs through the first quarter of 2010 and helped raise gross domestic product for a third straight quarter.

"While we are encouraged to see the economy strengthening and employers starting to hire again, we understand more work has to be done to ensure every American who wants a job has access to a good job," said Solis, noting that Congress recently passed the HIRE Act to encourage small businesses to start hiring again through tax cuts and Social Security tax exemptions for new hires.

"We continue to push for programs to help unemployed workers make it through this difficult time," she said, adding she supports extending unemployment benefit programs through the end of the year.